Educate citizens on election laws, lawyers told

COAST REGION: HUMAN rights lawyers in the country have been urged to actively educate citizens about election laws and engage in advocacy to inspire societal change.

This call to action was made by the Vice-President of the Tanzania Law Society (TLS), Ms Leititia Petro, during the closing ceremony of a capacity-building training session for human rights lawyers in Tanzania. The event took place recently in Bagamoyo, Coast Region.

The two-day workshop, organised by the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), brought together approximately 70 human rights lawyers from mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

The participants reflected on key issues, including the state of public interest litigation (PIL), freedom of expression and the role of lawyers in electoral and democratic processes in Tanzania.

“As lawyers and advocates, when we see things not progressing well, particularly in the legal field, it is our duty to engage in advocacy to bring about change. We must also educate citizens about election laws to ensure the public good,” Ms Petro emphasised.

She further urged participants to apply the knowledge acquired during the training to assist citizens in addressing legal challenges during the upcoming local government elections and next year’s general elections.

“You may already be familiar with these principles, but this training serves as a reminder. It is crucial to put what you have learned into practice, starting with the local government elections. Let’s assist and advise citizens on the legal challenges they face, ensuring we operate in line with our election laws,” she noted.

Ms Petro also hinted at the possibility of lawyers serving as election observers in the general election.

“We are exploring the idea of observing next year’s elections. This will allow us to fully utilise what we have learned during this training,” she stated.

She went on to encourage young lawyers to prioritise community service, highlighting how this approach can simultaneously foster their professional growth.

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“We should be ready to help communities wherever needed. Young lawyers, let us not prioritise money over serving Tanzanians. By helping others, we build our careers. Let’s not limit ourselves to big cities like Dar es Salaam, Mwanza or Arusha. We need to expand our reach to other regions and even district levels to support citizens effectively for the betterment of the nation,” Ms Petro remarked.

Additionally, she urged legal professionals to leverage their expertise to provide sound advice to the government. According to her, this is part of their responsibility to drive and foster positive change in the country.

Ms Petro also expressed her gratitude to THRDC for organising the training, emphasising its timeliness as the nation approaches the local government elections and the general elections.

She assured continued collaboration with THRDC and other stakeholders to provide further training opportunities for lawyers. THRDC National Coordinator, Mr Onesmo Olengurumwa, also spoke during the event, underscoring the importance of all stakeholders in the electoral process understanding how to manage elections fairly and transparently.

“Learning should be prioritised by all groups involved in election matters.At THRDC, we have made significant efforts to engage various community groups involved in elections, reminding them of their responsibilities and teaching them how to manage electoral processes in a free and fair manner. This is critical for ensuring justice for Tanzanians while maintaining peace and stability in our nation,” he explained.

He further highlighted the role of lawyers and advocates in safeguarding the rights of citizens during elections. He encouraged them to remain prepared to provide assistance to citizens whenever required.

“The two-day session has been highly impactful. We are confident that Tanzanians seeking legal assistance during elections and other legal processes will now have access to knowledgeable lawyers across the country. Providing such assistance is a fundamental duty of the legal profession,” Mr Olengurumwa stated.

The workshop aimed to refresh the knowledge and skills of human rights lawyers while empowering them with essential expertise.

It also provided a platform to share experiences and best practices to enhance their capabilities in managing PIL cases, particularly those related to freedom of expression and electoral and democratic issues in Tanzania.